Page 75 of How to Rescue Your Surprise Baby

“I didn’t wantyouto laugh at me.”

Mav snorted and shook his head. “I won’t.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

They sat in silence through three songs, awkwardly, until Telos’ new favorite song came on and he did a shimmy in his seat. “So wonderful, so beautiful,” he sang, louder as he grew more confident. “You’re the one thing that’s too good to be true.”

“So majestic, so fantastic,” Mav joined in, low and rumbling, his voice sending a shiver down Telos’ spine. “I don’t want to hide my feelings in the attic.”

No one’s going to talk about feelings,Telos decided. Out loud, he asked, “You know this song?”

Mav scoffed. “You’re not the only one with a radio.”

Then the chorus came on, and they both sang, “One love, one wish. I’d be anything for you, even a fish. My heart is pure and my love is true, for you I’d be as stubborn as a mule.”

Telos couldn’t help grinning; Mav wassinging in the car with him.

“Gag,” Raptor said in the other car. “That was too much.”

“Shut up,” Mav told him. “You’re the one going on and on about date night.”

“Date night, date night,” Crush chanted again.

“We’re getting close,” Duke growled.

Telos and Mav straightened. Duke gave the signal; he and Ace branched off from the highway. Some time later, Crush and Raptor took the next exit. Then it was Telos and Mav’s turn; they went down a deserted side road followed by a gravel path, driving for a while before pulling onto the road shoulder. Mav killed the engine.

It was silent in the car for a few moments, the engine ticking.

“Worried?” Telos asked quietly.

Mav pursed his lips. “A little, yeah. About you.”

Telos wanted to roll his eyes. But every mission carried a risk, more so now that he had a new life in his belly. He couldn’t run headlong into danger like he was used to doing. “I’ll keep the baby safe.”

Mav breathed out. “Please.”

Both of them stepped out of the car, tossing their clothes into the trunk. Mav shifted into a golden dragon; Telos joined him in theair as a smaller pterodactyl, a black one to blend easier into the night.

“Got your spells?” Mav rumbled.

“They’re in my pouch.” Uriel had charmed a small leather bag for Telos; it would shrink and expand with his body as he shifted.

Telos took the lead, turning them in the direction of the kidnappers’ hideout. In the distance, two other shapes appeared in the sky: Ace carrying Duke, Raptor carrying Crush.

They approached the hideout carefully, quietly, circling it from high in the sky to avoid detection. One by one, the pairs landed and moved through the forest to the compound’s boundary walls.

“So far so good,” Telos whispered into his enchanted mic when he’d done an audio sweep. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

Mav stepped closer, grasping Telos’ arm. “Stay safe.”

Telos nodded. He was about to shift when Mav pressed their bodies together, touching his nose to Telos’ jaw.

“Don’t get hurt.”

Telos’ heart skipped a beat. He nodded and leaned into Mav’s warmth for a second. Then he stepped away. “I’ll do my best.”

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